Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-08
WEST WASHINGTON COMPLAINS.
The Price Of Gas Excessive and I'm
just.''

me- FI1Ce VI tSdS ''foASeSSASe duO Ine
just.''
WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE
SUBMITTED TO TEE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENATE
DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
Chairman ingalls,, of the subcommittee Of the
Senate District committee, to which was referred
the petition of the gas consumers OF West Wash
ington "for relief from the oaerous eXactions OF
the Georgetown Gas.iyht company" requested the
committee appointed by meeting OF the citizens
OF that place to represent their interests before
Congress- to present to his subcommittee state
ment In writing OF their complaint against the
said gas company and the remedies they pro-
posed to right their alleged wrongs The commit
tee OF citizens have submitted th5ir statement TO
the Senate subcommittee, in which they repre-
sent:
First. That the rate charged for gas in George
town is excessive and unjust. Why should resi-
dent Of Georgetown be compelled 10 pay twice as
much FOR necessary article as his fellow citizens
who live under the same municipal government
SIS himself but on the east side OF Rock creek?
Such discrimination between citizens living within
q stones throw OF each other Is SO manifestly UNI
just that il cannot be defended and we confidently
rely upon Congress for remedy. 1t has been said
that the Georgetown company cannot afford to
lower its prices because its Held is restricted but
that excuse is not worth much because its plant
and expenditures are a correspondingiy small
scale, compared with those OF the washington
company, and 1t is safe to say that lower prices
Would soon increase the number OF gas consumers,
for many people here have ceased TO use this
Clearly and convenient mode OF lighting On ac-
count or the eSorbitant bills they had TO pay. II
aS cheaply the Washington company, then
Congress should protect our citizens by OPEN
town ' Company should be coinpel!ed to lower its
rates, however, we have no doubt the same old
dividends Will be paid just as regularly as hereto
FORE Dividends declared for publication deiude
no one nowadays, for the methods OF diStr1Dut-
ing surplus are various and cunnlngly devised.
In brief. nothing less than pure coal gas, at the
washington.
EaS-consImars OF Georgetown; first, because it is
right and just: and. second, because the charging
OF higher rates by the Georgetown company Ii III
violation OF rights defined by contract, having
the effect OF contingent ratification OF the charter
granted by Congress TO The Georgetown G2SiigAt
company, in corporation ordinance. dated June
II. 1853,
.second. The gas-consumers OF Georgetown
complain Of the Use at the gas WORKS OF a ccntri-
1Ngai pump. interpoSpit between the holder and
retGrtS, thereby creating IN excessive pressure so
as TO give higher meter .y5tr&tion. tSee testl-
DOny Of Cttheu and FCrd given before you'll Con-
greSs Is therefore appealed to Tor Sl,h legislation
us viii prohibit the use OF such centrifugal pumps
or similar devices used not improve the quail
tty OF the gas Or It's ne,hodoi manufacture but to
Increase its cost to the consumer.
''Thtrd. II is respectfully suggested that the
Georgetown Gas Company be required TO place a
jet ph0tometer In the police precinct station
house, cheap and simple device, which will de-
tec the forcing OF air into the pipes and Will show
its illuminating power, which should be Is candle
power here, as In Philadelphia.
Fourth. \ precOncerted arrangement existed
government inspector OF gas ana meter,, vii ,reby
the plot determination Oh the Candle po%er
OF said gas was made at a given time In the lore
noon, instead OF the evening While cOnSumers We're
using the light tSee testimony OF John Leech AID
"Fifth. II the Georgetown gaslight company is
the poor struggling corporation" that has been
represented, why has EXPIRE 7iIent Barto-, Of the
Washington gaslght company. within the past
year bought up 4 ma jority OF is StCcko The de-
velopmentS In the recent investigation OF the af-
fairs of the Washington gasllght company did not
show Mr; BaIto TO be a phiian,hropist. we re-
prevent in President BartOfs new field the tregli
lar and unfair business methOGs developed by The
Investigation OF the affairs OF the Washington gas
light company.
Respectfully submitted, Josiah Dent, chairman;
A. Hanlon, john Lynch, u. K. Brace, Z. j. McIn-
II. klenSchmidt. H. d., Ch,,s. Becker, Geo. Lock-
hard, NJ. keieher, q. w. CASTELAR,. VI. ". Curtis"
District Government Affairs.
THE CONTROL OF TIE wEARvES.
The District Coi.lliiia aloners yesterday made an
order directing the suspension OF all orders rela-
tive to taking possession o. tie river front. Tne
following letter was addressed TO Reginald Fen
dali I. A Lambert and CaiGeron Caria.e: ~ m
directed TO say that IN accordance with the sGyce
OF the attorney for the District the Commits !ale:s
have determined 10 take no steps touching the
wharves occupied by the gentlemen repr s3ntei
by you until the determination OF their rights IN
the pending case OF the United States at. Morris,
brought by tie Attorney General under the act vi
August D. 1856. VIA. 1iudall. Secretary.'
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mr.. Walter 8. PagGee, inspector OF buildings
from MINNEAPOLIS, hinn-. yesterday paid a visit %
Inspector EntWiSie., Office where he secured all
tie blank iorms used in the Office here.
The tag receipts for 1856 were s., 1856 124.3S. ex-
ceeding The receipts or 1885 by sS:i,O9l.a9.
A delegation OF builders have waited on the
commissioners, protesting against TIE recent or
der OF the Conni ssionecs aiotting only eislt feet
OF street nom the curb 10 deposit materials and
to mix mOrt..r on the parking.
A Few bids we've received at the office Of the
Commissioners to-day Tor lease o. the wharyeS
but under the order issued yesterday To postpone
all further action Until the suit ROW pending
against Norris shall have been sett ed in the
courts, these bids will be held over Until that
time
The Commissioners were abSt Mt from their Office,
all day with Representatives " i.u4. IcaaS
Henderson. Long, LcFeyre, Butteg"ogtl s,ild
Kowe! on the line OF The proposed massachusetts
avenue extension.
Real Estate Sales.